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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists. Debate over power in the newly formed United States. Who were the Federalists?. James Madison : 36 year old Virginia legislator who co-wrote the Federalist papers under the pen name Publius along with Hamilton and Jay.

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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

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  1. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Debate over power in the newly formed United States

  2. Who were the Federalists? • James Madison: 36 year old Virginia legislator who co-wrote the Federalist papers under the pen name Publiusalong with Hamilton and Jay. • Later became congressman and 4th President of the United States • “Those who hold, and those who are without property, have ever formed distinct interests in society.” Federalist No. 10

  3. Alexander Hamilton • 31 year old New York legislator and lawyer, born in the West Indies • Served as secretary to General Washington during Revolutionary War, later was 1st Secretary of Treasury under Pres. Washington • Led Federalist party against Jefferson and Madison’s Democratic-Republicans • “Divide et imperamust be the motto of every nation that either hates or fears us.” Federalist no. 3

  4. John Jay • 42 year old lawyer and judge from New York • Delegate to the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress • Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Governor of New York, and 1st Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court • “This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.” Federalist No. 2

  5. Who were the Anti-Federalists? • Patrick Henry: 52 year old lawyer • Served as both Virginia legislator and Governor • “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”

  6. Richard Henry Lee • 55 year old Virginia lawyer • Wrote under pen name Federal Farmer • Virginia legislator, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and US Senator • “The Antifederalist Federal Farmer focuses on three main objections in this essay. He claims that the proposed Constitution 1) fails the "full and equal representation" test 2) inadequately separates the powers of government and 3) has a strong tendency to consolidation” –Federal Farmer III

  7. George Clinton • 49 yr old lawyer, New York legislator and Governor, Vice President of the US under both Presidents Jefferson and Madison, longest serving governor in US history. • “the ‘vague and inexplicit’ nature of Article II, the Presidential article, could ‘lead to oppression and ruin.’ So why are you prepared to ‘adopt a system so vague, and which has discarded so many of your valuable rights? Is it because you do not believe that an American can be a tyrant?’ He turns now to his critique of Article I: biennial elections are ‘a departure from the safe democratical principles of annual ones, that the number of representatives are too few.’” Cato V

  8. Federalist Platform • Seen as radical or progressive • Independent, proud of new US government • Followed philosophies of Enlightenment, especially Montesquieu’s belief in civic virtue & fraternal society, including juries, assemblies • Did not see need for a standing army, people would form citizen army when necessary • Entrepreneurism and commerce key to success • Opportunity, better life for future generations

  9. Anti-Federalist Platform • Conservative (classic Republican & Libertarian) • Feared formation of unitary gov’t (authoritarian) • More individualistic, less communal than feds • Distrustful of elite, aristocratic virtues • Feared politicians cannot remain uncorrupted • Admitted need for national reps in federal gov’t • Terms should be short, reps not easily re-elected, no career politicians. Reps should be rooted in local communities, serve as volunteers

  10. Federalist Response • Focus on national security and int’l relations • US must be able to protect its trade • Fed gov’t requires powerful chief executive • Fed gov’t must be able to tax citizens • Checks and balances, and compromise is key • Hamilton supported judicial review, need for non-elected, unbiased courts • Madison believed Bill of Rights must be added as promised, would not change the Constitution

  11. Anti-Federalist Response • We are exposed and weak to the outside world, but we must protect and support our republican ideals of representative gov’t above all else • Creating a strong executive branch takes power away from the people • President and Senate may join forces against the House of Representative (people’s house) • Must allow states to handle most domestic issues, federal gov’t can then focus on int’l issues

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